The "Achievement Gap Oversight Committee" established by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction held their first meeting yesterday in Olympia. The panel is charged with "synthesizing the findings and recommendations from five studies completed last year." Each of the studies details how to address the achievement gap between White students and students of color.
A committee dedicated to making recommendations after reading reports that contain recommendations. Hmmmm. It seems State Superintendent Randy Dorn may share my concern. In a news release issued from his office today Dorn says, "The studies have been done, and this committee isn't going to produce another one. It's going to do the hard work, which means it will make recommendations that will positively affect students in Washington."
If you're interested in reading the studies yourself you can find a link to them via the OSPI website.
The reports individually address the achievement gap faced by African American, Latino, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander students. Each of the studies address income, household status (non-traditional v. traditional families) and parental involvement - which also play a role in a student's success or failure in the classroom. Each of the studies suggests the state develop and implement a strategic plan that fosters cultural responsiveness in the classroom. In other words, start recognizing that we are all different and we learn in different ways. The cookie cutter approach schools use in teaching kids isn't working.
The committee is scheduled meet again on September 23rd and present their first report to the Legislature in January 2010.